Staff Attorney for Family Law - Colorado Springs

Job Description

Job Description

Organization Overview:

 

Colorado Legal Services (CLS) is Colorado’s statewide nonprofit legal aid program, with twelve offices providing civil legal assistance to low-income Coloradans throughout the state. CLS provides free legal assistance in a broad variety of legal areas, including family law, public benefits, eviction defense, consumer protection, services to survivors of serious crime and human trafficking, and many others.    

CLS has strengthened lives, assisted families, and supported communities–one person at a time for over 100 years. We are committed to providing high-quality, free legal advice and representation to eligible individuals throughout Colorado. We have a long history of successful impact and advocacy. CLS strives to bring about substantive, transformational change in the lives of those we serve.    

At CLS, we value representation. We value and respect our staff's wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. We ensure representation of our client communities in our staff, Board of Directors and leadership teams. We also envision a fair, just, trusted, and harm reductionist legal system which emphasizes access to and implementation of true justice for every Coloradan. 

Position Summary: 

The Family Law staff attorney works primarily in El Paso and Teller (4th Judicial District), with additional coverage in the 11th (Fremont) and other counties. This role operates in the Colorado Springs office, under the supervision of the Assistant Supervising Attorney for the Family Law Unit.

The position requires a candidate with strong work ethics, a background in family law and trial practice, as well as excellent research and writing skills. The ideal candidate must be organized and have a passion for assisting individuals in navigating challenging situations. The ability to speak Spanish is a bonus but is not required.

The Family Law staff attorney provides legal advice, brief services, and representation to clients who have experienced domestic abuse or other crimes of violence; clients with disabilities; and other low-income clients as needed. In addition to their caseload, the attorney also conducts outreach, community education events and participates in various local Boards/committees. In summary, this attorney role presents an exciting opportunity for a dedicated and passionate law professional to make a significant impact on the lives of the vulnerable population.

As a member of a multidimensional team, the attorney will contribute their expertise to achieve the best possible outcomes for clients and they must remain up to date with the latest developments in family law to effectively support clients. 

Essential Duties: 

• Independently manage an active caseload of domestic relations cases, including but not limited to civil protection orders, divorce actions, and cases related to the allocation of parental responsibilities. 

• Provide sound legal advice, brief services, and high-quality legal representation to clients, in accordance with the ethical rules of professional conduct, program priorities, CLS policies and guidelines, and CLS Casehandler guidelines. 

• Work collaboratively with other CLS attorneys, paralegals and intake specialists as needed. 

• Ability to travel on an as needed basis to Teller County, Fremont County, and other counties as needed. 

• Advocate for clients through skillful litigation, performing all duties associated with trial practice, including but not limited to client and witness interviews, thorough case investigations, legal research and drafting of any necessary legal documents and pleadings. 

• Ensure comprehensive and current client case notes and documentation in case management system. 

• Engage in genuine good-faith negotiations on behalf of clients; developing and implementing strategies designed to achieve client’s
  objectives. 

• Develop professional relationships with judicial officers and staff as well as with the community served. 

• Utilize trauma-informed principles when working with survivors of domestic violence or crime. Display courtesy, patience, empathy, and sound judgment while providing clear and transparent communication to clients, managing their expectations effectively. 

• Under the direction and supervision of the Managing Attorney, develop strategies for providing community education and outreach presentations, and participate in local boards and committees. 

• Perform additional duties as assigned.
  

Required Qualifications: 

• Valid license to practice law in the state of Colorado or ability to obtain a Colorado license as soon as practicable. 

• Strong work ethic. 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 

• Detail-oriented with strong organization skills, critical thinking, and analytical skills. 

• Ability to adjust priorities as requirements change is necessary. 

• Excellent time management skills are a must. 

• Basic proficiency in Office 365 is expected. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Spanish speaking is preferred, but we encourage applications from non-Spanish speakers as well.

Compensation and Benefits:

 

We offer a generous plan that includes 100% employer paid premiums for employee health, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance, as well as partial employer paid premiums for spouses/dependents, based on a sliding scale. We also offer Dependent Care and Medical Flexible spending accounts, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). CLS contributes $200/month to each employee's 403(b) retirement account and matches 100% of employee contributions up to 3% of employee salary; vesting occurs gradually will full vesting after 3 years of employment. Additionally, CLS offers generous paid time-off and 13 paid holidays per year.  

CLS values its employees’ commitment to working hard for the population it serves and recognizes the importance of work/life balance. We promote and foster a culture of belonging and a psychologically safe work environment, striving to be a “Best Place to Work” in Colorado.  

How to Apply :  

Please submit your resume, cover letter, and a legal writing sample via the “Apply for This Job” link for this job opening on our careers page no later than Monday, October 5th.  We will not be reviewing applications sent via e-mail or physical mail. If you have questions about this position or any other positions at Colorado Legal Services, contact Karen Vilner, Director of People and Culture, at View email address on ziprecruiter.com.